Oregon law enforcement career fair looks to fill 500 vacancies

Oregon Law Enforcement Career Fair at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21.

Posted: Apr 19, 2018 1:23 AM

Posted By: Lindsay Housaman

SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Association of Chief of Police, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Peace Officers Association, and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) are pleased to host the Oregon Law Enforcement Career Fair at the Oregon Public Safety Academy at 4190 Aumsville Highway SE in Salem on Friday, April 20, 2018 and Saturday, April 21, 2018. Both days will run from 10 am to 2 pm and more than three dozen agencies will be in attendance.

DPSST Director Eriks Gabliks said "across the state law enforcement agencies are looking to hire men and women from diverse backgrounds who are problem solvers interested in engaging with community members to help make communities safe. With baby boomers getting ready to retire, there are more than 500 current vacancies and there will be many more to follow as more than 1,000 currently employed police, corrections and parole and probation officers and 9-1-1 operators around Oregon will be eligible to retire over the next three years.”

Gabliks said “The event will run from 10 am to 2 pm on both days and will not only allow interested applicants (friends and family members) to meet representatives from dozens of law enforcement agencies but also find out about the various career opportunities available that range from police, corrections and parole and probation officers; 9-1-1 operators; lab and evidence technicians; crime analysts; forensic chemists; nurses; and many others. Specialties such as K-9, explosives technicians, marine patrol, tactical, and motor patrol will also be on hand to answer questions and display their equipment.”

Both days of the two-day event will also feature three panel discussions - Why Policing in 2018; Women in Law Enforcement; Military to Law Enforcement: Continuing to Serve. Gabliks said "In previous years the panel discussions have been well attended and have allowed applicants (and friends and family members) interested in career opportunities to hear first-hand from those currently working in the field what to expect, what a day is like, what challenges and rewards they have experienced, what they wished they would have known when they applied, etc. Each session includes active question and answer sessions."

A new statewide law enforcement careers webpage is a great tool for interested applicants, OregonPoliceJobs.com Gabliks said “This is a new webpage that is an amazing tool that will help get the word out on what is available around the state at a centralized location"